BY
FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS, NY, Wednesday, October 15,
2014—To successfully salute Catello Manzi’s career, one would need a vast
vocabulary as well as a gaggle of gold stars.
Manzi and his harness racing achievements shall be recognized by Yonkers
Raceway Saturday night (Oct. 18), appreciated by friends, fans and
competitors.
Take in the Catman’s career numbers for
a second…more than 91,000 drives, a figure unmatched by any jockey or driver.
Then, there are the 14,800 wins and $158 million in purses. Let those
figures sink in.
For four decades, he was among the elite drivers everywhere he hung his hat,
from Monticello to Liberty Bell to Freehold to Garden State Park to the
Meadowlands and Yonkers Raceway.
Of course, there are the highlights from a Hall of Fame career…as in a trio of
Yonkers Trots, a North America Cup, a Meadowlands Pace, a William Haughton
Memorial, three Hudson Filly Trots, a division of the Lady Maud and the richest
Lawrence B. Sheppard Pace ever.
Throw a Driver of the Year award into
the mix and you see why the affable Catman found himself in some rare air. It’s
fair to say his harness racing resume shall never be duplicated.
Manzi retired earlier this season and
Saturday night, the Raceway pays tribute to an unmatched career and the
gentleman behind it.
Congratulations, Cat.
(Note…Yonkers is ‘forcing’ Manzi to sing
for his supper, as Cat makes the presentation for Saturday night’s sixth
race Open Handicap Pace, then signs autographed photos directly outside the
winner’s circle).
The Raceway's five-night-per-week live schedule continues, with first post
every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday (trio of stakes
eliminations) at 7:10 PM. Evening simulcasting accompanies all live programs,
with afternoon simulcasting available daily.
